Community Vision Becoming Reality

(Port Orchard, WA) – The land acquisition and transfer process for the Kingston Village Green project is complete! “With over a decade in the making, this is an occasion to celebrate” said County Commissioner Rob Gelder.

The property is located right in the heart of downtown, on NE West Kingston Road, and will eventually be home to a community center and affordable senior housing project. This most recent phase of the decade-long effort transfers ownership and management of the land so that construction on the 35-unit senior housing project can begin this July with construction anticipated to be complete in summer of 2013.

“This project goes a long ways towards providing a needed solution in north Kitsap when it comes to affordable senior housing,” noted Chad Solvie, CEO of Martha and Mary. “The senior housing in conjunction with the community center will bring generations together in a wonderful central location.”

The land was first identified as a desired site for a central park and community center in 1993. In 2001 a formal Village Green Concept Plan was put together by the County Parks and Recreation Department. Plans were delayed until 2006, when the County negotiated the purchase of an adjoining 3.6 acre plot from the U.S. Navy.

The project is meant to replace the existing community center, which is on a traffic island between the inbound and outbound Washington State Ferry traffic lanes. This traffic island location makes access difficult and dangerous for pedestrians. Parking is also severely limited (the complex has just 33 spaces) and the facility is over 75 years old and is not adequately accessible for those with disabilities. The new community center, which will be developed as funding allows, will house a 4,000 square foot library (3.5 times larger than the current, single-room facility), gymnasium, Boys and Girls Club, and a commercial kitchen.

“As an Urban Growth Area, Kingston needs to develop more resources for the families that continue to move into the area. The Kingston Village Green is looking to meet the needs of a changing community by supplying resources to seniors, youth and many others throughout the community” said Commissioner Gelder.

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